It’s TV pilot season, which means the networks are loading up on new projects they’d like to pursue in hopes of finding the next hit series. Since I work in TV research, I hear pilot news on a regular basis. Every day, I hear about this actor or that actor signing on to star in this new show or that one.

Guess what? Not a single lead actor is Asian or Asian American.* Yes, I am elated that Daniel Dae Kim has found life after Lost, but he’s technically in a supporting role to Alex O’Loughlin. And there aren’t many other Asian Americans in the dozens of pilot projects currently in development: a minor role here, a minor role there. It’s the same as always.

The Hollywood Reporter recently came out with an article discussing the expansion of minorities in lead roles in TV pilots. Forest Whitaker, an African American man, is heading the Criminal Minds spinoff on CBS. Biracial actors Gugu Mbatha-Raw (South African/English) and Boris Kodjoe (German/Ghanaian) are leading NBC’s new JJ Abrams drama, Undercovers. Afro-Cuban Laz Alonso is headlining Fox’s new project, Breakout Kings. According to THR, casting for the leads in Undercovers “was done color-blind, with producers looking for the actors who best fit the characters and had the best chemistry … [E]arly breakdowns had Michael Keaton and Kiefer Sutherland as prototypes for the role on the Criminal Minds spinoff that was offered to Whitaker.”

I applaud the producers of Undercovers for being able to look beyond race, so they could cast purely based on chemistry and how the actors fit into the roles. (Of course, it doesn’t hurt that Mbatha-Raw and Kodjoe are both gorgeous.) I’m happy for all these actors; since I am not familiar with most of them or their work, it’ll be a pleasure to see some fresh talent on the small screen next season.

I just wish that Asian American actors could take part in what looks like a breakout year not just for new actors, but actors of color.

* Is Iranian considered Asian? ABC ordered a pilot called Funny in Farsi, based on the memoir by Iranian American Firoozeh Dumas. Iran is geographically in Asia but Persians are racially Caucasian. I’ll leave this up to you guys to figure out.

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I don’t consider Iranians to be Asian, though I would think of them as a minority. I don’t think they’ve “assimilated” and become accepted as “white” – sort of like Irish Americans back in the day (NINA and so on).

I think the extended Middle Eastern community has it extremely tough in the United States and I’d love for a smart Iranian American TV series to get out there. If I had to single out what group has had the absolute worst characterization in American television/film, it’d be people of Middle Eastern descent. I mean, 24? Damn.

You have to read the plot to believe it. The take-home message is that every single Arab out there is just itching for a chance to blow away noble American soldiers. Men, women, children, babies: every last one of ’em is out for American blood.

johnkim13

I just found out about this new film where an Asian American character leads an ensemble cast of Non-Asians. This may be the first time an Asian American Actor leads an ensemble cast.Key word “ensemble.”

Mike–I’ve watched every season of 24, and yeah, they pick on people of Middle Eastern descent much more than any other people, it seems. The Rules of Engagement link didn’t work on my computer, but from your description, I probably wouldn’t want to read about it anyway. It sounds terrifying…terrifyingly bad.

John–I checked out the movie link, and it looks interesting. And from the cast, it looks like there are a few Korean/Korean Americans. Not just a single token Asian…I’m amazed.

Unfortunately, many are “wishing” that APA actors would be featured in leading roles on TV. Respecting and applauding your current occupation in TV research, it would be great to read your list of “qualified” APA actors that have been passed over for leading roles. Qualified meaning have a track record and training. It is interesting to note that many times the APA communities lambasts any portrayals that does not meet their expectations (short-sighted, IMO). Many executives are hesitant because of the turmoil within the APA communities starting from the Margaret Cho show to Bonzai to other programs. In these days of extreme caution within the television industry, the APA communities have to provide a reason why a TV series should feature an APA actor that doesn’t create such turmoil (especially within the APA communities). Hearing of Maggie Q being part of a television series is great, though making films (IMO) is her best creative option. One hopes that the series is better than Russell Wong’s “Black Sash” that was syndicated mainly through CW.

In past seasons, Lucy Liu and Lindsey Price have been major part of ensemble casts of TV series that quickly bombed. It is great that John Cho, Michael Chan and Sandra Oh (among others) are part of successful tv programs.

It would be fascinating to hear of your future research that incorporates your discussion with people (i.e. MANAA/Guy Aoki, Karen Narasaki/APA Media Coalition head, CAPE/Fritz Friedman, etc.) who are our current representatiaves in making sure qualified APA actors don’t get overlooked for leading roles while assuring TV executives that viewership from the APA communities would be forthcoming (a logical request since that would be one of the main reasons why they would be included – good or bad).

LindaChan

Hi MadChinaman,

First, I’d like to thank you for taking the time to write a thoughtful, well-researched comment. You provided a lot of information about the history of APAs in Hollywood that I was unaware of.

I wanted to address your point about listing qualified APA actors, actors who have training and a track record. As you mentioned, there are several high profile actors in ensemble casts. I’ll use the examples you gave– John Cho and Sandra Oh. What I want to know is, couldn’t these APAs easily be cast in the lead roles of their respective shows? For example–couldn’t “Demetri Noh” (John Cho’s character) be the lead FBI agent, and couldn’t “Mark Benford” (played by Joseph Fiennes, a capable but, in my honest opinion, forgettable actor) have been the secondary role? As for Sandra Oh, why couldn’t “Dr. Cristina Yang” be the lead role, as opposed to “Dr. Meredith Grey”? It’s not like having Ellen Pompeo, a relatively unknown actress before Grey’s, would raise the profile of the show.

The point of my ranting (and yes, there is a point, buried as it may be) is that in plenty of instances, lesser known (or even unknown) Caucasian actors are cast in lead roles, while minority actors are placed in the secondary/supporting roles. This is why I am so floored and ecstatic that Maggie Q is in talks to play a high-profile role that traditionally went to white women. I really think more producers and writers need to examine how they’ve been casting for lead roles. I think if they’re honest with themselves, they will find that “white” is the default race for a role that does not specify race. Could Lucy Liu, and not Calista Flockhart, have been the star lawyer in Ally McBeal? Sure. Then the show would be called Ling Woo…and…what’s wrong with that?

MadChinaman

Linda:

It is great that you are involved with television research and have a greater than passing interest in the influence/participation of people of Asian descent in the small screen (hopefully, on all screens). It is my hope that your research will include a historical perspective and knowledge that will provide greater clarity and vision of what can be attained while avoiding past mistakes. It is sad that many Asian Americans are painfully unaware of history (in the media and in the communities) that has been highlighted by various non-Asians who have pointed out their lack of knowledge. In the past, a prominent person of Asian descent in the media brought an Asian American singing group proclaiming the many firsts that it has established and/or pioneered. Considering that this person was talking to Dick Clarke, he brought up numerous examples of Asian/Asian Americans in the music industry. Wouldn’t it be great to have the APA communities honor Anna May Wong (visit http://us_asians.tripod.com/features-am-wong.html for more info) like the rest of Hollywood have already done – there is a status of her in the Hollywood with other prominent women of color such as Josephine Baker

Re: Sandra Oh
Grey’s Anatomy is one of the few successful television shows with a minority producer, the other being Ken Mok of “Next Top Model” (visit http://us_asians.tripodcom/articles-ken-mok.html for more info) and was championed at CBS by another person of Asian descent – Ghen Maynard. At the time of the casting of this ensemble piece, Sandra Oh had done roles but none that provided any evidence that she can carry the show – despite being a very good actress. Of course, all of us remember her movie with Darryl Hannah and others in “Dancing At the Blue Iguana?!?”

Re: John Cho
Joseph Fiennes has more credibility than John Cho – right or wrong. He would be in the best position, considering all the good publicity he is receiving (visit http://www.tv.com/story/18506.html for more info) and doing hot scenes with Gabrielle Union (visit http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UhgPL-ojoi8 for more info) – I’M JEALOUS?!?! – to be seriously considered for a lead in a television program. Since he (hopefully) is getting “good” film offers, he has definitely viable options and opportunities.

Re: Ally McBeal / Lucy Liu
At the time of the creation of the show, Calista Flockhart was a Broadway star that was given an opportunity on an upstart TV network that became a big hit that included myself among its legion of fans. Lucy became a sensation in the best possible way – she was just a guest on one program but received such an overwhelming response, it became a reoccurring character that transition to being a part of the cast. Interesting that her “pet project” is a female version of Charlie Chan.

Re: Maggie Q / Lisa See
Despite her U.S. roots, sadly many people think of her as an Asian actress (as oppose to an Asian American actress – though the lines are quickly blurring, just as they do for all ethnic communities such as Italians, Jews, Irish and other Europeans). Side Note: It will be interesting to see how the Wayne Wang-directed movie based on a Lisa See book (presently shooting while including Hugh Jackman/Li Bingbing in the cast and the John Cusak/Gong Li film will do when they are released.

Re: Past Opportunities
Lucy Liu and Lindsey Price have had multiple chances to star in their own programs and/or be a prominent member of an ensemble cast. Russell Wong and Ming Na have had their respective chances to grab the proverbial “golden ring” (leading roles) in the TV industry. Coco Lee had the “Chance of the Lifetime” by her solo vocal performance at the Oscars singing the theme song to “Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon” that didn’t translate into continuing success. (In Coco’s case, there were other factors). It is interesting that a Hong Kong actor (Sammo Hung) had the most successful television program starring a person of Asian descent – visit http://us_asians.tripod.com/features-m-law.html for more info. It should be noted that Jack Soo (visit http://us_asians.tripod.com/timeline-1910.html#jack-soo for more info) probably would have received his own comedy television series if he had not died prematurely.

Re: Qualified APA Actors
I look forward to your list of APA actors (a partial list at http://usasians-features.tripod.com/ can serve as a starting point) that should be considered for leading roles in future TV programs while addressing the fears that any plotline will be boycotted – odd since there are very few APA writers or producers. When “qualified” people of Asian descent start financing, creating, writing and/or producing quality programs – things will change quicker. We should support people like Pun Bandhu (visit http://usasians-articles2.tripod.com/pun-bandhu.html for more info) who was one of the producers of a small Broadway show that won a Tony Award (Spring Awakening).

Re: Changes
Just as APAs are demanding changes, I look forward to your views on how accountable we should hold the people who are presently representing the APA communities to the networks – considering that the grades for diversity have not consistently improved. At a recent conference for aspiring APA actors, a couple of working APA executives in Hollywood publicly stated that they will never work on an Asian American project because it will never make money. It is sad that a prominent Asian American Bay Area writer wrote that Asian Americans in the media started in the 1960s and that a middle/upper-class APA founding member of an Asian American theater group publicly stated that he didn’t know that the Chinese had built in the railroads in the 19th century till after he had received his Masters Degree at an Ivy League school that prompted him to create a musical on this historical fact (ironically, it never arrived in Southern California).

SADLY, WHEN IT COMES TO RACE and culture, people don’t listen; they go in with their minds made up . . . . and then try to batter the other side with their opinions. This professional attitude was clearly evident at a recent event (Harward in Hollywood) where Michael Lynton (Chairman and CEO of Sony Pictures Entertainment), when asked what the next ten years held for Hollywood as a business, stated in essence that the people who had run Hollywood “in 1920” were still running it now and would still be running it “ten years from now.”http://usasians-articles.tripod.com/yellow-ceiling.html